scholarly journals Nest-boxes for Common Swifts Apus apus as compensatory measures in the context of building renovation: efficacy and predictors of occupancy

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
TONIO SCHAUB ◽  
PETER J. MEFFERT ◽  
GERALD KERTH
Keyword(s):  
Boosted Regression Trees ◽  
Occupation Probability ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
City District ◽  
Absolute Height

SummaryCurrently, renovation and thermal insulation of buildings is happening at a high rate in many European countries, driven in part by the political aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, building renovations often lead to a loss of structures, such as accessible cavities, on which synanthropic species, for example house-nesting birds, depend. In Germany, due to legislative regulations, it is a common practice to install nest-boxes as compensation for destroyed nest sites of birds. However, studies on the efficacy of such measures remain sparse. We monitored the occupancy of 477 compensatory nest-boxes for Common Swifts Apus apus, predominantly placed on renovated prefabricated buildings in a city in Germany. We found 24.3% of the boxes occupied by Swifts. On most buildings, the number of occupied boxes was as high as or even higher than the assumed number of breeding sites prior to renovation. Furthermore, in a district where nearly all buildings had been renovated in the past 10 years, we recorded a remarkably high density of Swifts breeding in nest-boxes. Using boosted regression trees, we analysed whether eight different nest-box properties influenced box occupation probability. The number of neighbouring boxes was the most important. Additionally, box age, facade orientation, city district, relative and absolute height, and manner of installation (external/internal) also played a role. Between different nest-box types, we found only negligible differences in occupation probability. Our findings suggest that installing nest-boxes is likely to be an appropriate measure to compensate for nesting sites of Swifts lost during building renovations. Based on our results, we recommend mounting the boxes a few metres apart from each other and close to the roof edge to maximise success. Further studies should be carried out to assess whether our results and conclusions can be confirmed in other situations.

Nestling Of House Sparrow Passer Domesticus In Nest Boxes In Zielona Góra Preliminary Report

2014 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-26
Author(s):  
Damian Markulak
Keyword(s):  
Preliminary Report ◽  
House Sparrow ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
European Cities ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Nesting Sites

Abstract The population of House Sparrows in most of European cities declined in the end of the XX century (De Laet & Summers-Smith 2007). One of the presumable reasons of this decline is loss of nest sites. The House sparrow is a secondary hole-nester (Anderson 2006) and places its nest in holes of buildings, shrubs and nest boxes. The rate of nest box occupation depends on the location and competition with other species (Anderson T.R. 2006). The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of nest box occupation by House sparrows in Zielona Góra, Western Poland, which can provide information about the availability of nesting sites.

scholarly journals The Use Of Nest-Boxes By Two Species Of Sparrows (Passer Domesticus And P. Montanus) With Opposite Trends Of Abundance – The Study In Warsaw

2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrzej Węgrzynowicz
Keyword(s):  
House Sparrow ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Specific Rate ◽  
Tree Sparrow ◽  
Urbanization Gradient ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Housing Estates

Abstract The occupation of nest-boxes by House- and Tree Sparrow in Warsaw was investigated in 2005-2009 and in 2012. Riparian forests, younger and older parks in downtown, and housing estates were included in the study as 4 types of habitats corresponding to the urbanization gradient of Warsaw. 1035 inspections of nest-boxes suitable for both species (type A) were carried out during the breeding period and 345 nest-boxes of other types were inspected after the breeding period. In order to determine the importance of nest-boxes for both species on different plots, obtained data were analyzed using Nest-box Importance Coefficient (NIC). This coefficient describes species-specific rate of occupation of nest-boxes as well as the contribution of the pairs nesting in them. Tree Sparrow occupied a total of 33% of A-type nest-boxes, its densities were positively correlated with the number of nest-boxes, and seasonal differences in occupation rate were low for this species. The NIC and the rate of nest-box occupation for Tree Sparrow decreased along an urbanization gradient. House Sparrow used nest-boxes very rarely, only in older parks and some housing estates. Total rate of nest-box occupation for House Sparrow in studied plots was 4%, and NIC was relatively low. However, locally, installation of nest-boxes limited House Sparrow decline caused by reduced availability of its typical nest sites. Both species used only A-type nest boxes. The rate of nest-box occupation by House Sparrow decreased sharply since 1980s, and opposite trend was observed for Tree Sparrow. These alterations are consistent with the general changes in both species populations in Warsaw in recent decades: decrease in House Sparrow and increase in Tree Sparrow number. The presented results suggest that loss of nest sites may not be the main reason of decrease in House Sparrow population in Warsaw. Additionally, House Sparrow decline leads to increase in nest sites (including nest-boxes) available for Tree Sparrow, what may contribute to the expansion of the latter species.

The potential breeding range of Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris identified from stable-isotope analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 228-237
Author(s):  
GRAEME M. BUCHANAN ◽  
ALEXANDER L. BOND ◽  
NICOLA J. CROCKFORD ◽  
JOHANNES KAMP ◽  
JAMES W. PEARCE-HIGGINS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Western Siberia ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Breeding Population ◽  
Calibration Equation ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Breeding Range ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
Southern Russia

SummaryThe breeding areas of the Critically Endangered Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris are all but unknown, with the only well-substantiated breeding records being from the Omsk province, western Siberia. The identification of any remaining breeding population is of the highest priority for the conservation of any remnant population. If it is extinct, the reliable identification of former breeding sites may help determine the causes of the species’ decline, in order to learn wider conservation lessons. We used stable isotope values in feather samples from juvenile Slender-billed Curlews to identify potential breeding areas. Modelled precipitation δ2H data were compared to feather samples of surrogate species from within the potential breeding range, to produce a calibration equation. Application of this calibration to samples from 35 Slender-billed Curlew museum skins suggested they could have originated from the steppes of northern Kazakhstan and part of southern Russia between 48°N and 56°N. The core of this area was around 50°N, some way to the south of the confirmed nesting sites in the forest steppes. Surveys for the species might be better targeted at the Kazakh steppes, rather than around the historically recognised nest sites of southern Russia which might have been atypical for the species. We consider whether agricultural expansion in this area may have contributed to declines of the Slender-billed Curlew population.

scholarly journals Begging calls provide social cues for prospecting conspecifics in the wild Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

The Auk ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 136 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanja B Brandl ◽  
Simon C Griffith ◽  
Toni Laaksonen ◽  
Wiebke Schuett
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cues ◽  
Social Information ◽  
Breeding Site ◽  
Taeniopygia Guttata ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
Zebra Finches ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
In The Wild

Abstract Social information can spread fast and help animals adapt in fluctuating environments. Prospecting on the breeding sites of others, a widespread behavior, can help to maximize reproduction by, for instance, settling in the same area as other successful breeders. Previous studies have shown that successful broods have the highest number of prospectors and that they are visited most when offspring in nesting sites are already old, making the information more reliable. In this field study, we experimentally tested how prospectors are attracted to successful nest sites. We presented wild Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata) with different visual or acoustic cues in nest boxes, simulating the presence of small or large clutches or broods. More Zebra Finches visited experimental nests that were associated with playback recordings of begging calls of large broods (7 chicks) as opposed to begging calls of small broods (3 chicks) and controls (white noise and silence). On the other hand, visual cues (nests with different numbers of eggs or rocks), representing nests at early stages, did not influence either the probability of visits, nor number or duration of visits. We present the first evidence that begging calls of chicks in the nest, a signal intended for kin communication, can also provide social information to unrelated prospecting conspecifics. This information could potentially be used for a fast initial assessment of the quality of a breeding site.

scholarly journals Demography, breeding success and effects of nest type in artificial colonies of Red-footed Falcons and allies

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
László Kotymán ◽  
Szabolcs Solt ◽  
Éva Horváth ◽  
Péter Palatitz ◽  
Péter Fehérvári
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Nesting Success ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Artificial Nests ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Artificial Breeding ◽  
Nest Type

Abstract Shortage of breeding sites is an important limiting factor of bird populations. Artificial breeding platforms, nest-boxes or man-made twig nests often present solutions with remarkable results, however long-term sustainability of these populations remains to be resolved. Furthermore, the question whether the inference of results of studies conducted on birds breeding in artificial breeding sites can be generalized to other populations, still remains open. Here we present the history, and the results of a 20 year old (1995-2015) nest-box programme initiated to increase potential breeding possibilities of Red-footed Falcons in an area, where nest-site shortage was a severe limiting factor. We show how various other species (Jackdaws, Kestrels and Long-eared Owls) have utilized these resources, and present descriptive statistics on their reproductive performance. Analysing the data of a total of 1432 breeding attempts, we show that Red-footed Falcons have similar clutch sizes, and nesting success (i.e. ratio of nests with at least on fledgling), however fledging success (ratio of the number of eggs/fledged nestlings) was different in artificial nest-boxes. When we excluded closed box types from artificial nests, this difference was not apparent. In case of Kestrels (n=1626 breeding attempts) clutch size was significantly higher in artificial nests, while we found no difference in fledging or nesting success. When only comparing open boxes to natural nests, the difference in clutch size was no longer significant. We also analysed the effect of nest box design on reproductive parameters of the two species using regression trees. Inter annual effects were the most important in shaping clutch size and fledging rate of both falcon species, however we also found nest-box design effects, but only in Red-footed Falcons. In years when mean clutch size was high, these birds had lower clutch size in an older, darker nest-box type compared to an alternative design, and to open boxes. However, fledging rate in the same years was lower for both open boxes and older nest-boxes. We conclude that artificial colonies are an important and successful tool in Red-footed Falcon conservation, and that the breeding parameters measured in artificial colonies depend on nest-box design. We present correlative evidence that closed boxes have a significant positive species specific effect on reproduction, probably due to their protection against weather. We also show that birds may have a preference for a certain nest-box design, and that the breeding success in the less favoured box type may be similar to that in open nests. We recommend that future studies incorporate nest-type and nest-box design effects in all comparisons made on reproductive performance in case of Red-footed Falcons and Kestrels.

Interaction between distant taxa in the use of tree cavities in African ecosystems: a study using nest-boxes

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 187-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
José P. Veiga ◽  
Wanyoike Wamiti ◽  
Vicente Polo ◽  
Muchane Muchai
Keyword(s):  
Social Insects ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Patterns ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Tree Cavities ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
Forested Areas ◽  
Potential Factor

Abstract:Convergence in the use of resources may occur between distantly related organisms. A major ecological resource in which members of various taxa may be interested is a cavity for nesting. A variety of social hymenopterans and vertebrates may nest within tree cavities in tropical ecosystems. We used 241 nest-boxes placed in seven Kenyan localities to investigate the use of nesting cavities by members of distant taxa and discuss whether interaction between them is a potential factor shaping cavity-nester communities in tropical regions. The nest-boxes were occupied by social insects (ants, bees and wasps) (30.1% of nest-boxes in April–May and 33.1% in September–October) and vertebrates (birds and mammals) (20% and 7.7%, respectively). Hymenopterans were more abundant in forest boxes (36.2% of nest-boxes occupied in April–May and 37% in September–October), whereas savannas had lower figures (21.7% and 31.3%, respectively). Among vertebrates, most occupants of nest-boxes in savanna were birds (17.8% of nest-boxes occupied vs. 8% in mammals), while mammals predominated in forests (4.9% of the nest-boxes occupied vs. 0.3% in birds). Spatial and temporal patterns of occupation highlight the potential that interaction between distant taxa may have on the access to nesting cavities. More nest-boxes remained unoccupied in forested areas than in savanna areas suggesting that a shorter supply of nesting sites in the savanna may be a source of competition. The simultaneous occupation of a nest-box by two different taxa was exceptional, also supporting the hypothesized inter-taxon competition.

scholarly journals Influence of the Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) on the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) population in Germany

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Lindner
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Breeding Population ◽  
Peregrine Falcon ◽  
Bubo Bubo ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Rock Face ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
Eagle Owl

Abstract In Germany, the Eagle Owl is the only animal species that has a massive impact on the distribution and breeding success of the Peregrine Falcon. Both species compete for the same breeding sites on rocks. In addition, the Peregrine Falcon belongs to the prey spectrum of the Eagle Owl. The Eagle Owl always dominates at places where the two species meet. Since the 1980s, the Eagle Owl has taken over many of the rock face breeding sites of the Peregrine Falcon in Germany. This trend towards the taking-over of Peregrine Falcon nesting sites is ongoing in areas with rocks, as not all regions of Germany have yet been completely colonized by Eagle Owls. Since 1975, the Eagle Owl initially nested on buildings in rural areas, but it is now also colonizing urban areas. Eagle Owls are more and more frequently taking over Peregrine Falcon nest boxes on buildings. The currently growing Peregrine Falcon breeding population on buildings is expected to decline in coming years due to predation by the Eagle Owl, even though these owls do not breed very successfully on buildings and many old and young owls are killed. These statements apply to large parts of Germany. In other areas of Europe, the future usage of buildings as Eagle Owl breeding sites can be expected to have an impact on the Peregrine Falcon populations there. At least eight other Peregrine Falcon breeding sites on buildings and rocks have been taken over by Egyptian Geese (Alopochen aegyptiaca).

A critique of the use of nest boxes for the conservation of Leadbeater's possum, Gymnobelideus leadbeateri McCoy

1991 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 619 ◽  
Author(s):  
DB Lindenmayer ◽  
MT Tanton ◽  
RB Cunningham
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Strategy ◽  
Habitat Requirements ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Leadbeater's Possum

The provision of nest boxes has been proposed as a conservation strategy to overcome the predicted shortage of nest sites for the arboreal marsupial Leadbeater's possum, Gymnobelideus leadbeateri. Here estimates of the longevity of nest boxes are coupled with data on the habitat requirements of G. leadbeateri. This approach is used to predict the number of boxes required in a nest box programme for the conservation of the species. The practicality of implementing a nest box programme based on these predictions is discussed.

scholarly journals Nest-attenders in the Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) During Nestling Rearing: A Possible Case of Prospective Resource Exploration

The Auk ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 118 (4) ◽  
pp. 1069-1072 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulf Ottosson ◽  
Johan Bäckman ◽  
Henrik G. Smith ◽  
J. L. Dickinson
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Incubation Period ◽  
Ficedula Hypoleuca ◽  
Breeding Biology ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Resource Exploration ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Reading System

Abstract Visits to nest holes by birds other than their owners is a familiar phenomenon for students of breeding biology. In this study, we evaluate that behavior using a transponder reading system. Eighty-five males and females were fitted with transponders at the end of the incubation period or just after hatching. Nest boxes were fitted with transponder readers from just after hatching until all nestlings fledged. That system revealed 123 visits by birds to nest boxes other than their own, a visit being defined as at least one visit to a separate nest box on a separate day. Males were more often detected at other nests than females (53% of males vs. 29% of females visited) and males on average made more visits than females did (4.8 vs. 2.5 visits). However, both males and females devoted time to visiting other nests while still feeding nestlings. That behavior is more common than previously suspected and is consistent with birds prospecting for future nest sites or investigating patch reproductive success.

scholarly journals Landscape Factors that Influence European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Nest Box Occupancy at NASA Plum Brook Station (PBS), Erie County, Ohio, USA

2019 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan B. Pfeiffer ◽  
Thomas W. Seamans ◽  
Bruce N. Buckingham ◽  
Bradley F. Blackwell
Keyword(s):  
Sturnus Vulgaris ◽  
European Starling ◽  
Erie County ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Tree Cavities ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
Landscape Factors ◽  
Anthropogenic Structures ◽  
Invertebrate Pests

During the last decade at NASA Plum Brook Station (PBS), Erie County, Ohio, United States, there has been a nearly 50% decrease in European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) occupancy (nests with ≥1 egg) of nest boxes designed to be used by starlings. Increased availability of natural cavities, from invertebrate pests, might have altered nest box occupation rates. It was hypothesized that starling nest box occupation rates would be a function of an index of potentially suitable tree cavities for nesting starlings, the semi-colonial nature of breeding starlings, and access to foraging areas (e.g., mowed lawns near buildings). Specifically, it was predicted that starling occupancy of nest boxes would correlate positively with a low density of potentially suitable tree cavities (calculated from a constructed index based on characteristics preferred by nesting starlings), and proximity of other starling occupied nest boxes and anthropogenic structures or mowed lawns. The objective was to quantify landscape factors around nest boxes with known starling occupation rates. Potentially suitable tree cavities were readily available near nest boxes. However, starling nest box occupation was instead a function of proximity to buildings, a factor associated with additional nesting sites and preferred foraging areas (mowed lawns). Nesting starlings in this study were influenced by anthropogenic structures and associated resources.

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